IMHO the books being advised here are too high level. Its like trying to read about Computer networking basics from RFCs. Some advise are equivalent to searching for a reason to learn "C" by appreciating what can be done with "C" by reading books on Linux Kernel programming.
I will mention a few books which by no means are undergraduate level, but are per-requisite for undergraduate level study. Are you thorough with books given below? These books are available through http://gen.lib.rus.ec.
1. Higher algebra - Hall and Knight
2. Trigonometry I - Loney
3. Coordinate geometry I - Loney
4. Calculus of one variable - Maron
Download the books and check if you already know all those. Once done, then go for the higher level books most the people advising here.
Though I empathize with senior people of the software industry, I will like to add some other perspective to this discussion.
I am from the Oil and Gas industry in Operations domain, nothing to do with software. Previously I have worked for IBM as a software engineer. Hence, I have the perspective of both industries.
From this discussion thread, it seems that senior people are looking for exclusivity and immunity. I can correlate it with seniors of my industry. My company is government owned. Here, seniors people (by age, not by rank / +1 rank but the same job responsibility) command juniors (by age, not by rank / -1 rank but the same job responsibility) and seldom do any work. They come to office late, leave office early citing family issues everyday.
When I bring up the topic to my boss, he says I need to understand they are like that, can't help. Sometimes he says "Learn from them, how to get work done by others". Those others are younger people like us - 22 to 40 age groups.
I will mention a few books which by no means are undergraduate level, but are per-requisite for undergraduate level study. Are you thorough with books given below? These books are available through http://gen.lib.rus.ec.
1. Higher algebra - Hall and Knight 2. Trigonometry I - Loney 3. Coordinate geometry I - Loney 4. Calculus of one variable - Maron
Download the books and check if you already know all those. Once done, then go for the higher level books most the people advising here.